Kashmir shuts on JRL’s call, restrictions imposed in Srinagar areas

DGP says I-Day celebrations passed off peacefully

Srinagar, Aug 15 (KNS): The district administration Srinagar imposed restrictions in Srinagar areas on Wednesday while as a complete shutdown was observed on August 15 across the Valley amid official Independence Day functions held in all the district headquarters.
Notably, the shutdown call was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) compromising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, appealing people to observe the day as ‘black day’.
Local sources said that heavy contingents of police and paramilitary CRPF troopers were deployed in the sensitive areas of Old City here to thwart any protests by the people on the day.
The authorities had imposed restrictions in Srinagar areas including falling under the jurisdiction of scores of police stations.
Besides, the security was also put on high alert around SK Stadium here where the main I-day function was held today.
Following the call given by JRL, all the shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and educational institutes remained closed throughout the day while as the vehicular movement was also thin on the roads.
Besides, the mobile telephony and internet services remained also suspended across the Valley for at least four hours.
Officials informed Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the step to suspend the mobile telephony and internet service were taken as “a precautionary measure”.
At around 11:00 am, the services were restored across the Valley.
Besides, in wake of the shutdown call, the authorities had also suspended the train services in the Valley as “a precautionary measure”.
Soon after the culmination of I-day functions across the Valley especially at SK Stadium where Governor N N Vohra unfurled the tri-colour, the services restrictions around the main venue was removed while as the mobile telephony and internet services were also restored.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Director General of Police (DGP), Dr. Shesh Pal Vaid said that the I-Day celebrations passed off peacefully throughout the Valley, saying that no untoward incident took place anywhere in the Valley.
He also expressed gratitude to general public for maintaining peace on Tuesday as well as today. (KNS)